According to Pat Riley, Dwyane Wade was “the best player in the world” when he led the Miami Heat to an improbable championship victory in 2006.

Wade, an NBA Finals MVP at age 24, “was better than Kobe [Bryant] at that time,” says Riley.

""Dwyane was better than Kobe at that time (2006)," Riley says. "He had a better year by having the impact on winning—in the Finals, in the biggest moments, on the biggest stage. And you get that moniker.""